Tell - Tale

The flames die into thinning chaos, screams replaced by moans and whines, fighters replaced by injured and captured. Yul is crouched in a corner, blood stained hands examining his bloodied dagger with horror. Seo walks to him, surveying the site for any lurking danger that had gone unnoticed. Seeing there is none, he lowers himself beside the teenage prince, setting down his bow.

"I didn't mean to kill him,'' the boy says in a small voice, staring at the blood - swallowing the queasiness that he feels.

Watching him, Seo wonders how mistaken the common belief about the third prince was. The boy wasn't as indifferent or unempathetic as many in the court believed him to be. He was confused and maybe a little afraid. There were two kinds of children as Seo had learned. Some came with strong emotions of their own - like the fourth prince Yun. They wanted nobody to teach them how to trade those uncharted waters. Then there were those like Yul. His brain ran ahead of him, curious - learning - absorbing facts. He had no time to pause and examine sentiments that escaped the comprehension of his logical mind. Those ended up being termed as the strange sort, by people who feared what they might end up achieving.

"But he would have killed you, given the chance." Seo tells him, his tone measured. He takes the boy's blood stained hands and makes him let go of the wretched weapon, it clatters on the ground. "Wanting to survive doesn't make one a monster - your highness."

Yul bites on his trembling lower lip and looks up at him, his face pale and empty, where he had wiped his face, out of anxiety maybe, he had left his cheek blood stained.

"You know I've heard the court gossip -" he swallows again. "Even the imperial academy isn't immune to rumors. Do you think they are right Kang Seo? Do you think there is something wrong with me? What do you think they will say if they hear about this - about what I have done? I had a scholar ask me once - do I enjoy the sight of blood? No - I don't!"

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with you."

Seo foregoes the honorifics and addresses the child - the way either of his parents probably would have done. What Yul needed perhaps was a long, fruitful discussion with his father. He is the closest to come to being shunned for the lack of outward sentimentality - a man once labeled a cursed monster. But, they were miles away from the possibility and the doubt should not go long unanswered.

"The imperial court is full of different people. They may not all be worth their salt but your imperial father needs them to maintain the social fabric. In return they like to think they know more than they do."

"But don't you think I should have been more like Yong Hyungnim or the twins? Everybody loves them."

A dry chuckle escapes Seo.

"Donggunnim mama would tell you how many people loathe him if you ask. He has too many twisted methods to be the court's darling. In fact, I don't think it even matters to him, for his highness the crown prince knows, those who matters - will love him no matter what conspiracy he is supporting on the sly. As for the twins, they have driven enough people mad with their antics, including your lady mother." He looks down and sees that Yul remains unconvinced. "Wangjanim, nobody is like anybody else. If someone does look that way it is only a pretense. I don't think either of your parents would want you to be any different from what you are. And if you change, just for the sake of what less worthy others think of you, we will sorely miss the wonderful person that you were." He stands up and offers Yul a clean hand. "Come, I need your opinion on something."

The boy hesitates for a moment before accepting his hand. Master Li the Qhitan Envoy watches them walking away and turns to his local aid.

"What is wrong with the boy?"

"The third prince was born under a usurper's star they say," his aid whispers conspiratorially. "The queen almost died during his birth - and he was born during a solar eclipse. For a while Songak buzzed with all sorts of ominous tales. Then the child himself was strange. He never cried - used to watch everyone with strangely knowing eyes. Didn't speak a word until he was well over five. Most thought he was dumb - perhaps - some said it was some cursed effect of the queen's witchcraft. Anyhow - he is not a very popular prince to say the least."

"Uh.." Li takes in the information with a twitch to his mouth. "Strange indeed! The hunter - the usurper - the son of the witch - what strange brood his imperial majesty has ended up raising!"

Seo in the meantime takes Yul to examine the seized weapons.

"Look closely," he says. "And tell me what you observe."

It takes Yul a moment to take his mind off the trauma from before. But his detail oriented mind is drawn to the short swords and blunted - by - use arrows that are laid down for inspection. His brows frown.

"The weaponry made under imperial license have a mark on them. These have none," he says, picking up one short sword and spinning it at eye - level. Seo strokes the blade with a finger.

"Look at the craftsmanship - look at the edges. They are not symmetrical. This is not a job performed by an imperial swordsmith. See here - see the edge. Marks like these are left when the smith is unable to control the temperature of the forge. It usually happens when the wrong kind of wood is used in the burners."

Yul nods, moving to the arrows.

"The weight is wrong. It's almost identical in looks but the tip is too heavy. The extra weight would affect the projection and accuracy of the shot. You are right - these are all amateur work. But - Kang Seo - look at the metal. It's well refined. This is -"

"Imperial steel." Seo confirms for him. They exchange a look, Yul's eyes narrowed in confusion gradually clearing. None of the captured men might talk, but they no longer needed confessions to find their source.

"Naju," Yul says. "So the mysterious rebels finally have a place of origin."

*